Sex offender took lifeguard course with young girls

A CONVICTED sex offender was free to join young girls for lifeguard training despite a court ban on contact with femalesaged11-16.

Ian Purvis, 24, from Edinburgh, was able to sign up for lifeguard lessons in Edinburgh despite being convicted just a year earlier for sending an illicit video of himself to a teenage girl.

He also has a previous conviction for sex with an under-age girl and had his name added to the sex offenders’ register for the next four years.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard today (Tue) that despite being placed on the sex offenders’ register and ordered to keep away fromyoung girls, he joined the lifeguard class at Portobello Swim Centre and Gracemount Leisure Centre in July 2009.

The offence only came to light in January 2011 when Purvis himself mentioned the lessons to the police officer tasked with monitoring him.

Purvistodaypled guilty to a charge of breaching his Sexual Offences Prevention Order granted in Newcastle in 2006.

Theoriginalorder prevented him “entering or remaining in any building while being used by any females between the ages of 11 years and 16 years for educational or recreational purposes”.

Fiscal Depute Ruth Ross-Davie said: “He told her (the police officer) that he had been attending the club.

“It wasn’t until January 2011 that this police officer spoke to leader of the group who advised her the other members were females of those ages and she advised that Mr Purvis had been in the company of a 14-year-old girl.”

It was stated by Ms Ross-Davie that Purvis did not have “any qualification in teaching life -saving”.

She stated that at the time Mr Purvis was unaware that this breached the order but now he accepts that he did.

His defence lawyer,Charles Morrison,asked for sentence to be deferred until risk reports were obtained.

Sheriff Derrick McIntyre continued bail until a later hearing in July.

Purvis had previously been convicted for using his mobile phone to send a video of himself engaged in a solo sex act to a teenage girl.

Then aged 21, Purvis claimed the girl had asked for the footage and he had sent it to stop her “pestering” him.

But Sheriff Derrick McIntyre’ the same Sheriff who heard the case today -rejected his story and jailedhimfor five months.

He was also previously convicted for having sex with an under-age girl and had his name added to the sex offenders’ register.

Edinburgh Council said today that the swimming pools are run by a separate organisation, Edinburgh Leisure.

Purvis was a member of Edinburgh Life Saving Club.

It is understood that while Purvis was never officially a coach at the club he did carry out some demonstrations under the supervision of a trainer who could not do them because he was injured.

Purvis was never subject to the disclosure check that Edinburgh Leisure requires of staff on their premises as he was only a member.

It is understood the club only became aware of his sordid past when police began to investigate.

A spokesman for the club said:

“This matter has been resolved, he is no longer a member of the club. There is no further comment. “